The reinstatement of a national structure for adult and community education is one of the main changes that Aontas, the National Association for Adult Education, hopes to see introduced during the term of the next government.
The need to reinstate the National Adult Learning Council (NALC), or to replace it with a similar body, was among 10 demands presented by Aontas to Minister of State for Adult Education Seán Haughey and Opposition representatives at a conference in Dublin yesterday.
Aontas says the council was "effectively abolished" in 2003.
In response, Mr Haughey said the adult learning council was established on an "ad-hoc basis" in 2002 and that its functions became "too wide-ranging" and were "not particularly focused".
He said a review of its role had been undertaken, the results of which would be "actively considered". Progress had been made on adult education during Fianna Fail's time in government and that direct investment in the area had increased by €56 million, or 50 per cent, in the last five years, added Mr Haughey
Pressed as to whether Fianna Fáil would reinstate the council by next year if it was returned to government, Mr Haughey said he could not give an absolute commitment, without having studied the results of the review.
Olwyn Enright of Fine Gael said any review should be published as soon as possible, while the Green Party's Eileen McDermott suggested €500,000 be put aside immediately to help fund the reinstatement.
Among other changes proposed by Aontas are the abolition of fees for part-time learners and the introduction of a €12 million capital expenditure budget.
Aontas says funding for adult education stands at only 2 per cent of the total education budget and this figure should increase by 1 per cent each year until 2013.
It is also demanding that paid educational leave be introduced for workers with Junior Certificate qualifications or less.
Ms Enright said priority needed to be given to lone parents, adding that it was a "great shame" that Ireland had not taken part in international adult literacy surveys so as to better inform policy.
Labour's Jan O'Sullivan said it was important to offer workers opportunities for upskilling, particularly for those at the lowest level of skills.
Sinn Féin's Seán Crowe said the coalition had failed to recognise the scale of educational disadvantage and condemned a failure to support breakfast clubs.